Tag: russian revolution

The February- 19171917 revolution in Russia abolished monarchy while the October- 19171917 established socialism

During 1920s and 1930s the Soviet Union was ruled by Communist party (Bolsheviks) which does not believe in private property. After the Russian revolution the farm lands were taken over by the government and combined to form big Government owned farms where the farmers would work as laborers. This process was known as Collectivization. Its target was to improve food security, food supply to urban areas and supply of raw material to industries. Although the programme failed badly leading to famine and starvation and death of thousands of people.

Rasputin was born in a peasant family in Serbia who later took pilgrimage to a monastery and became a monk. He created social influence in Petersburg and befriended Russian rulers the Tsars. He became a healer and mentor for Tsar's son and his wife. When during First World War Nicholas II (Tsar Ruler) went to oversee Russian armies, he became very powerful in government matters. This created jealousy and enmity for him and he was finally assassinated by some noblemen in 1916 AD.

"Wage Labour and Capital" is an essay on economics by Karl Marx, written in 1847 and first published in articles in the Neue Rheinische Zeitung in April 1849. This essay has been widely acclaimed as the precursor to Marx’s important treatise Das Kapital.

Bolsheviks, member of a wing of the Russian Social-Democratic Workers’ Party, which, led by Lenin, seized control of the government in Russia (October 1917) and became the dominant political power. The group originated at the party’s second congress (1903) when Lenin’s followers, insisting that party membership be restricted to professional revolutionaries, won a temporary majority on the party’s central committee and on the editorial board of its newspaper Iskra. They assumed the name Bolsheviks and dubbed their opponents the Mensheviks (“Those of the Minority”).

Stalin believed in rapid development of heavy industrialization and it was a key in first five year plan. It led to high demand for foods and Stalin collectivized and shortened agriculture duration. Though they struggled with the foreign relations initially due to their capitalist belief, the international community accepted them. The Russians believed in social realism.

Karl Marx studied political economy and capitalism for his Economic and Philosophical manuscript and framed a new political economic theory scientific socialism.

In December 1904, the liberals called for political reforms and a constitution. The Czar issued a manifesto which promised many demands however crucial demands weren’t included. Upon many sympathy strikes, huge number of workers went to the Winter Palace to sign a petition but the troops fired causing about 1000 deaths. This was called as Bloody Sunday and it was the start of the Russia Revolution.

The Russian Revolution took place in 1917, during the final phase of World War I. It removed Russia from the war and brought about the transformation of the Russian Empire into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), replacing Russia's traditional monarchy with the world's first Communist state.